PAGE TWENTY SIX 2 FOOTBALL ’85 By CHARLOT M. DENMON Staff Correspondent Dallas fans — young and old — broth- ers, sisters, parents, friends, and, of course, Monday night quarterbacks file into the stands on both sides of the stadium. It’s Saturday afternoon, Aug. 31, day of the season opener and a wave of excitement rises in waves toward the bright blue sky overhead. Fans continue to enter the stadium, many carrying ‘Be A Booster” navy cushion under their arms. Others crowd ‘around the refreshment stand, manned ‘by band sponsor volunteers, impatiently waiting to order that ‘pre-game’ hot dog, coffee or coke, or perhaps a slice or two of Nardone’s famous pizza. Gridiron club members stand along the walkway selling game ball tickets or catching them for a “Know the Players” program, good for the entire season for 50 cents or $1.00. From time to time, bursts of music are heard coming from the direction of the high school as a few of the nervous band members make certain they know the opening notes. This day marks the culmi- nation of their hours of practice in preparation for the first big event of the new school year. Suddenly, as though signalled by syn- chronized watches, the more than 100 members of the band attired in their Columbia blue and white uniforms appear at the stadium gate, marching in time to the spirited selections approved by Band Director David Benn. The moment is here! Behind them are the hours and hours of rehearsals, learn- ing new music, new cheers, new routines and, this season for the first time, new demonstrations by the “Silks”. Their hard work is worth it as the members perform flawlessly for fans on both sides of the field. The majorettes perform new twirling routines, the Silks do their own thing for their first public appearance and the cheerleaders, marching in a group, drop off in front of the Dallas fans to lead them in new cheers. Band members play their solo numbers then, led by the majorettes, the group files quietly from the field to their seats in the stands amid a roar of approval and loud applause from the fans. Black and white shirted officials wear- ing sparkling, clean-white knickers saun- ter on to the field while the varsity cheerleaders hasten to the entrance end of the field with the traditional large banner bearing words of encouragement to the players. The Mountaineer mascot appears sud- denly from out of nowhere and, in a far corner of the field, the Dallas blue and white ambulance, staffed by volunteers is in place. Photographers, professionals and amateurs, pace up. and down the sideline, sportswriters have taken their places in the press box atop the bleachers and the stage is set! On come the players in their clean blue and white uniforms, followed by the coaches, athletic director Gerald Stinson and the school doctors. The lumps in throats, the queazy stom- achs, butterflies are not obvious to the fans, but they’re there as the players break through the large paper banner held by cheerleaders and continue to their side of the field. Joseph Ostrowski, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Ostrowski, of Carverton Heights, RD 3, Wyoiming, is a sophomore member of the Jersey Devils football team of Fairleigh Dickinson University, Madison, New Jersey. Beginning his second year of play for the Devils, Ostrowski is preparing to move from the center position to the strong guard post this season. A 5°10” 200-pounder, Ostrowski is a 1984 graduate of Dallas High School where he Football '85 played five years of football during his junior and senior high school years. Quickly, the cheerleaders return to the sidelines to lead fans in cheering on the team and the band members back them up with spirited music. Team captains run to the center of the field, shake hands with their opponents and call for the toss of the coin to determine who kicks off. With that over, they return to the side- lines for last minute words from their coaches. Then 22 players take their places on the field. The curtain is up! The game begins! Yes, football ’85 opens in all its glory — with fans, band, cheerleaders, strutters, majorettes, media, and last but not least, the players! A successful season takes it all — that’s what high school football is all about! He is studying mathematics at Fair- leigh-Dickinson. The Dallas High School Gridiron Club will sponsor its annual ‘“Meet the Team Night” on Thursday, August 29, at the Dallas High School football field, weather permitting. In the event of inclement weather, the event will be conducted in the gymnasium of the high school. Ron Ostrowski, president of the Dallas Gridiron Club, reports that members of the 1985 Dallas High School football team will be available for photos beginning at 5:30 p.m. A program is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. Dallas High School head football coach Ted Jackson, along with members of his coaching staff, will conduct the program. Refreshments will be served in the gymnasium following the program. The public is invited to attend. WED., FRI., SAT. 9-5 TUES., THURS. 11-9
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers